Navigation aware news service

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal simultaneously receives an interactive service, such as a betting service, and a web-based news service operating in conjunction with the interactive service across a wireless connection. Both services are simultaneously displayed in different windows on the same display of the mobile terminal. The user&#39;s selections, navigation of pages and other input in the interactive service are monitored and used to select related news items for a scrolling news frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/580,582 filed on May 30, 2000, now issued U.S.Pat. No. 8,540,574. This application also is related to U.S. patentapplication entitled “Chat System for a Specific Location” U.S.application Ser. No. 09/580,442, not currently published); U.S. patentapplication entitled “Location Aware Product Placement and Advertising”U.S. application Ser. No. 09/580,583, now issued U.S. Pat. No.8,175,921); and U.S. patent application entitled “Video Message Sending”U.S. application Ser. No. 09/580,443, not currently published), all ofwhich were filed concurrently with the aforementioned '582 applicationand all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to communication services. Particular aspects ofthe invention relate to providing a user interface for a news serviceoperating simultaneously and in conjunction with another real timeservice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During the last few decades, same-time-same-place gambling has beencomplemented by same-time-different-place activities. Telephone bettinghas a long history that includes activities that have been proscribed(e.g., starting price or S.P. bookies), that have been approved (e.g.,on-course bookies), and, in some countries, that have beenState-conducted (e.g., phone-betting with State Government TotalizatorAgency Boards or TABs).

It has long since been recognized that the virtualization of gamblingcould result in major changes to society. Whereas in 1975 few peoplemight have contemplated a future in which bets could be placed on whichmember of the British Royal Family would die next, or on which statewould next erupt in civil war, such bets can now be placed in the UnitedKingdom and in several other nations around the world. Betting housesoffering such services are becoming readily accessible on the Internet.(See, for example, www.casinos-gambling.com/osbooks.htm.) Additionally,interactive networks are emerging from several hitherto separatetechnologies, for example, cable transmission, growing out of cable-TV,where the capacity of the connection is typically split betweenhigh-bandwidth down-channels and low-bandwidth up-channels. TheInternet, with connection to the home and most workplaces via aconventional public switched telephone network (PSTN) can also be used.

Gambling is increasingly becoming a major feature of interactivenetworks. So much so, it appears to be one of the largest sources ofrevenue generation on the Internet. Use of the Internet for gambling isespecially significant because it is fully operational, it uses anexisting and pervasive infrastructure, and its market reach is alreadyvery wide. In addition to its physical advantages the growth rate of theInternet is dramatic and it is intrinsically extra-, and evensupra-jurisdictional, making it extremely resistant to existingregulatory frameworks.

Satellite and cable infrastructures may be used to operate servicesindependent from the Internet. It is important to note, however, thatthey are also entirely capable of being used as carrier mechanisms forInternet traffic, and indeed to support both proprietary and Internetchannels at the same time. If satellite and/or cable come to supplantthe public switched telephone network (PSTN) carried Internet, it willnot necessarily supplant the Internet itself.

New third-generation wireless communication networks enable high speeddigital services to be delivered to moving receivers. With a UniversalMobile Terrestrial System (UMTS) or Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM) mobile phone connected to a laptop and a DVB-T(terrestrial) receiver plug-in card, browsing the web at speeds of 2-14Mb/s and diverse content is possible. However, the restricted resourcesof third-generation mobile terminals require more advanced navigationsystems and more intelligent interaction design patterns. (A designpattern is a problem and the core of the solution to that problem.)

Most of the equipment used to create, edit, and distribute programs isnow digital. For example, in delivering a news broadcast, the fieldreporter uses digital satellite news gathering equipment to uplink herreport to a programming center. The material is digitally received,decoded, and compiled with live program feeds in a studio. The broadcastis then sent digitally around the world to professional receivers.

It is common in some modern display technologies, such as televisionreceivers, to provide functions such as picture-in-picture (PIP),enhanced audio, and other special features, as options. Currenttelevision receivers incorporate such modules on a hard-wired basis. ThePIP feature requires a composite video signal from a source other thanthe television tuner. The signal from that external video source isdisplayed on a selected portion of the cathode ray tube (CRT) viewingscreen along with the main video signal.

An intelligent TV is for receiving communication services by connectinga TV to a value added network (VAN). The intelligent TV includes aninformation signal processing unit for receiving informationcommunication data (hereinafter, “information data”) when theintelligent TV is connected to the VAN, and for generating informationRGB signals, and switching control signals in order to display theinformation data on a screen. The intelligent TV selects and displays onthe screen one of the information data signals processed in theinformation signal processing unit and a TV RGB signal processed in a TVsignal processing unit, in accordance with the switching control signaloutput from the information signal processing unit. Intelligent TV makesit possible to view, through a TV screen, several communicationservices, such as stock quotes, news services, weather reports, and TVprogram lists, being transmitted through the VANs. Therefore, it has anadvantage that persons who are not familiar with the usage of a computercan easily receive communication services. Even though intelligent TVhas the advantage of receiving communication services through the TVscreen, it cannot display multiple signals at the same time Informationsignals for displaying information data on a screen, a TV signal, aPicture-In-Picture (PIP) signal for enabling two screens to be viewedsimultaneously, and a TV on-screen-display (OSD) signal must bedisplayed one at a time. Therefore, signals are displayed according to apredetermined priority. For example, an information signal is displayedpreferentially over a TV signal, a PIP signal is displayedpreferentially over an information signal, and a TV OSD signal isdisplayed preferentially over a PIP signal.

Current information delivery services described above lack many featuresthat would enhance their usability and desirability by the public. Asmentioned, the intelligent TV lacks an ability to display multiplesignals simultaneously. In addition, an online connection of twodelivery services with one of the services being, for example, aninteractive application, is not available. Current technologies aredependent on stationary receivers. Since multiple signals cannot beintegrated by the IRD, information delivery is dependent on the locationor site.

With particular regard to betting, real-time betting is quite difficultto carry out when the competition is on going in one location and thebetting is done in several different remote places. Current systems donot show the possibility of betting once a competition begins sincethere is no connection to the betting environment. Existing systems donot offer the possibility of betting during television program receptionon the basis of the second screen on the display. Further, bettors arenot shown a table for inputting the betting values to be sent to thebetting system in real-time. Therefore, current systems are notintuitive or easy to use by a majority of bettors.

Real-time, interactive services can present problems regarding timingand presentation of information. With particular regard to bettingservices, the user needs to be aware of the betting window available. Aslow or non-responsive user interface can cause a bettor to miss thewindow and loose a betting opportunity. Different bettors may rely ondifferent information or desire the information to be presented in aparticular format. The format of the information may detract from thebetting experience or impair the calculating abilities of some bettors.However, current systems provide a standardized format without beingaware of, and responsive to, the respective preferences of differentbettors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed embodiments provide methods and systems utilizing agraphical user interface (GUI) for simultaneously providing aninteractive service, such as a betting service, and a web-based newsservice operating in conjunction with the interactive service across awireless connection. Both services are preferably simultaneouslydisplayed in different windows on the same display of third generationmobile terminals. The methods and systems according to the inventionmonitor the user's navigation of pages and other input in theinteractive service. The invention increases usability and the user'sfeeling that the GUI is aware of his selections in the interactiveservice. To present betting information in an attractive format andmaximize the information available to the bettor, the user interface tothe betting service is integrated with an enhanced news service that hasa scrolling news frame that is aware of the user's navigation in bettingpages. In real-time, the bettor may receive automatic news informationconcerning the betting opportunities in which he displays an interest.Since most bettors prefer to have as much information as possible whenbetting, they prefer to wait until the last possible moment to bet.

The invention provides the bettor with betting window information andthe latest information concerning the prospective wagers. Moreover, theuser interface is designed to provide such information in a manner thatboth attracts the attention of the bettor and provides the informationin a useful, easy to follow and navigate format in Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP) equipped mobile stations. Scrolling news items areretrieved from a database based on selections that the user makes in theinteractive service. The news items are shown to a user one by one. Userbehavior in the web site of the interactive service is traced all thetime and every move is registered into a log file or database. Everytime a subject, sport or team of interest changes, a new set ofscrolling news will be fetched and displayed.

The betting services themselves can also be personalized in any numberof ways to provide an advanced betting system. For example, the systemcan collect information of each bettor's preferred betting subjects orsports teams and provide personalized betting services according to thepreferences indicated by the collected betting information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed inventions will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which show important sample embodiments of theinvention and which are incorporated in the specification hereof byreference, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of the creation, reception, and responseto interactive services.

FIG. 2 depicts an example of the structure of a server containingdatabases for the betting data and news content.

FIG. 3 depicts an integrated display with a live video feed andinteractive content.

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of the viewer's connectivity andinteraction with the provided interactive services.

FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting a possible interactive display.

FIG. 6 depict a flowchart of the interactive betting process.

FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram of a first sample embodiment of thebetting provider architecture.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of providing anautomatic news service in conjunction with an interactive bettingservice.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the process of selecting and showingrelevant news items to the bettor in an interactive betting service.

FIG. 10 depicts a betting login page which includes Login and Passwordfields for logging on to the interactive service.

FIG. 11 depicts a main betting page supplied by the betting server tothe user at logon.

FIG. 12 depicts a window showing the status of currently availablebetting opportunities.

FIG. 13 depicts a table representing the user selection of colors andwhen the different colors can be shown.

FIG. 14 depicts skins which can be configured according to userpreference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will bedescribed with particular reference to preferred embodiments. However,it should be understood that this class of embodiments provides only afew examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachingsherein. In general, statements made in the specification of the presentapplication do not necessarily delimit any of the various claimedinventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventivefeatures but not to others.

The preferred embodiments of the disclosed innovations involves thesimultaneous reception and display of an interactive service and displayof dynamic news content on a mobile terminal. The dynamic news contentis like that of a wireless terminal, e.g., a mobile phone, a mediaphone, or an electronic book. The embodiments of the disclosed methodand system will be described using interactive betting as an example ofinteractive content supplied to an end viewer. However, it should benoted that interactive betting is just one of many services that can beprovided with the disclosed embodiments.

In the various disclosed embodiments, an interactive application,betting, for example, is facilitated. FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram ofthe creation, reception, and response to interactive services in thepresently preferred embodiment. Digital news content 120 is received,compressed, and converted for streaming onto the Internet 118 by a newsdatabase. Betting information is also created or obtained and thenstreamed onto the Internet 108 and 110. A mobile betting client 102 candisplay the news content 120 and the betting information simultaneouslyand a viewer can interactively select betting via the mobile bettingclient 102. Finally, the mobile betting client 102 transmits informationto the host facility 108 by connecting to a network 116 linked with thehost facility 108, for example, the Internet.

Alternatively, a single host facility 108 can integrate betting data andnews content to be supplied to the mobile betting client in anintegrated signal. The mobile betting client 102 receives the integratedsignal and separates the integrated signal into betting data and thesupplied dynamic news content. FIG. 2 shows an example of the structureof a server containing databases for the betting data 201 and newscontent 202 and which shows in part key elements, e.g., a keyword list,enabling the functionality of the invention described below. Everyrequest from a mobile betting client is handled in the server andnavigation parameters are inserted into database tables. Businessobjects handle requests from mobile betting clients and, if the keysubject of interest is changed, a more appropriate set of news will beretrieved from the database for a user of the interactive bettingservice.

Digital broadcast technology allows for services that can presentmany-to-one, many-to-many, and one-to-one communication. DVB has defineddelivery media for satellite services (DVB-S, direct-to-home viewing,cable (DVB-C) run in several countries, and terrestrial, or “over theair”, (DVB-T) planned for 17 countries. Use of return channels enablesdigital receivers to provide a variety of services including Internet,television, and web content. Processing of the digital signal can beaccomplished on a desktop or laptop computer.

Mobile betting client 102 is able to act as an Internet browser andpreferably has a very thin applet for socket connection with the serveras described in more detail below. Along with web browsing functions,the mobile betting client is equipped with a display and secureconnection capabilities. The mobile betting client 102 preferably hasPIP functionality. This functionality allows the viewer tosimultaneously view the betting service and the news service in twoseparate windows.

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of the connectivity of mobile bettingclient 102 and interaction with the provided interactive services. Inthe preferred embodiments, the mobile betting client 102 receives anintegrated digital broadcast signal (DVB-T). Reception of the signal canbe accomplished through various means. In the presently preferredembodiment, the mobile betting client receives the signal over a GSM,GSM++, POTS, UMTS, or other type of connection 104. The mobileconnection 104 is itself connected to a network such as an extranet,intranet, or the Internet 116. Mobile connection to the network 116takes place in a conventional manner over Hypertext Transfer Protocol(HTTP) using a modem pool 112 with user dial-in and authenticationservices 114.

FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram of a betting provider architecture. Inthis preferred embodiment, the betting provider information is protectedfrom network snooping by a security device such as a firewall 106. Atleast one betting provider server 108 resides behind the firewall.Software running on the server tracks viewers (bettors) in variouscompetitions.

One task of the server 108 is to authenticate viewers. In the presentlypreferred embodiment, a user information (UI) database 702 ismaintained. The UI database 702 stores user names and associatedpasswords, user account information, user preferences, and other userspecific information. In addition to tracking viewers, the server 108receives and accepts bets that have been requested by the viewer to abetting server 110 running on the network side of the firewall 106 andconnected to a network such as an extranet, intranet, or the Internet116. This betting server 110 acts as an interface between users of theinteractive services and the actual betting provider.

The betting provider server 108 receives betting content (questions tothe user) and the odds of the particular bets from a betting controller704. The betting controller 704 is responsible for creating bettingcontent, controlling the betting event, i.e., opening and closing ofbetting, etc. Betting control software is used to enter and calculatebetting content and odds and send them to the betting provider server108. In the presently preferred embodiment, the betting provider server108 stores the betting content and odds in a database (BCO) 706. Thebetting controller 704, via betting control software tracks, the resultsof the betting question and reports the results to the betting providerserver 108.

The results of the bets are stored in a database (BR) 708. Once theresults of a particular question are known and stored by the bettingprovider server 108, software on the server calculates payments to thebettors on the particular question. In the presently preferredembodiment, electronic accounts stored in the UI database 702 are usedfor tracking betting wins and losses. The results of the event andsub-events (betting questions) are reported to the betting server 110.The mobile betting client 102 can then receive the results from thebetting server 110.

FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting a possible interactive display for bettingservices. Directions at the top of the display 502 inform the viewer ofthe status or title of the interactive activity, in this case, betting.For an application such as betting, a dialog-type box 504 is used toinform the viewer of the current question on which bets can be placed.In the context of an auto race, a question such as “Who will turn thefastest 13th lap” may be presented. A pull-down menu or radio buttondialog box 506 may be presented depending on the type of question. Inthe above example, all of the drivers remaining in the race may bepresented in a pull-down menu. Dialog boxes specific to wagering: stakes508; odds 510; and payout 512, may also be presented. A statement ofaccount 514 with a betting services provider may also be presented. Theaccount is dynamic throughout the competition, registering winnings anddebits as each occurs. A response dialog 516 informing the user of betsbeing received and the current allowable wagers may also be provided.Such a response window is also dynamically updated as available bets aremade or changed. In addition to the displays listed above, dialog boxespresenting last minute betting advice or information can also bedisplayed. Such advice can include, for example, up to the minute statusof race participants not currently being shown on the broadcast or theinjury status of key players at an event. FIG. 3 depicts an integrateddisplay with a live video feed and interactive content.

FIG. 10 depicts a betting login page which includes Login and Passwordfields for logging on to the interactive service. In order toparticipate in the service, the user will need to register with thebetting provider server 108. New users will need to register.Registration information includes information about the device the useris connecting with, the bandwidth of the connection, and the style sheet(or skin) the user prefers. New users generally are kept fromparticipating in the service until an active betting supervisor oradministrator enables the user logon.

Logging on allows users of the service to make bets and watch both liveand on-demand streaming broadcasts. FIG. 11 depicts a main betting pagesupplied by the betting server 110 to the user at logon. Informationsuch as the current time, last use, and account balance information isdisplayed Information such as the number of other users currentlyparticipating can also be displayed.

Users can navigate from the main betting page to other pages bynavigating with the arrow or cursor control keys. FIG. 8 shows anexample method of providing an automatic news service in conjunctionwith the user's navigation through betting pages in the interactivebetting service. At step 810, the user enters his personal betting page.He can scroll the list of different topics and select the ones that areinteresting (Step 820). The news service server monitors the user'saction on the betting pages (Step 830). The server automatically checksin the database for any news information relating to items selected onbetting page(s) (Step 840). If such a relating news information is notfound or is not available (Step 850), the news service server continuesto monitor the user's actions at Step 830. If such a relating newsinformation is found and is available, the news service updates thescrolling news frame or window of the betting page (Step 860). If theuser wishes to see more about the item of interest, he can click on thenews item in the news frame (Step 870). The entire new story is thenshown to the user (Step 880). If the user does not wish to see moreabout the item of interest, the news service server continues to monitorthe user's actions at Step 830.

Of course, the method of operating the news service in conjunction withthe betting service shown in FIG. 8 is only exemplary. FIG. 9 is aflowchart illustrating another process of selecting and showing relevantnews items to the bettor in an interactive betting service. Similarly,the process depends upon the user navigating through items in thebetting service window (Step 910) and selecting an item of interest(Step 920). But at this point, the mobile betting client 102 mustconnect to the server (Step 930). Preferably, this is done by sending aclient to the server. This request can be handled with Java Servlets (orother server side technology available from companies such as MicrosoftCorp., of Redmond, Wash.) that will call business objects. Preferably, athin applet in mobile betting client 102 uses LiveConnect technologyfrom Netscape Corporation of Mountain View, Calif. and Document ObjectModel (DOM) tree manipulation to update the Hypertext Mark-Up Language(HTML) source in the news frame. The business objects will interpret theuser selection and insert the information into a log database or intoASCII or XML log files. After the user's selection has been registered,servlets form a response to the clients request using business objects.This response is delivered over HTTP.

The server then compares the user's keywords in the betting service tokeywords in the news database (Step 940). If the keywords do not match,then a default of general news items is shown (Step 970). If thekeywords do match (Step 1650), the matching news item is selected (Step960) and automatically shown to the user in the display of mobilebetting client 102 (Step 960). The business objects in the server updatethe news item in the news service window by “pushing” through a rawsocket protocol rather than being “pulled” by hypertext transferprotocol.

FIG. 12 depicts a page showing the status of currently available bettingopportunities. The betting window, that is the times during which placedbets will be valid is also displayed. The page functionality is shown asvisual or graphical illustrations. The page can contain and presentbetting information in many different forms, for example, warninglights. The page depicted in FIG. 12 has blinking lights in the form oftraffic lights 1202. The traffic lights are designed to provide advancednotification to the user of situations in the betting window. Forexample, one situation would be the amount of time left in the bettingwindow. For another example, a change in the betting information whichcould affect the choice of bets placed. In the presently preferredembodiment, the traffic lights use color to indicate the importance orimmediacy of particular information: e.g., red, orange and green.

FIG. 13 depicts a table representing the user selection of colors andwhen the different colors can be shown. The color preference choice canbe made at registration. In the presently preferred embodiment, theorange traffic light is configured to appear a day or two prior to theclose of the betting window. The red light is configured to appear whenonly a few minutes of betting are available. In the presently preferredembodiment, the user cannot change the appearance of the utmostimportant color. The utmost important color is set by the rules of thebetting administrator, usually red.

In addition to traffic signals, the window can have flashing or blinkingcolors to impart information to the user. Again, the flashing orblinking of text can be made at registration. The user interfacedatabase 702 in the betting provider server 108 contains the skinpreference information i.e., titles of the pages, background informationselections, font selection, color selection etc.

FIG. 14 depicts skins which can be configured according to userpreference. In the presently preferred embodiment, the users personalinformation page allows changes in skin preferences. For example, ifplayer is a NHL Dallas Stars fanatic, the user can change color ofpages, icons, and push buttons, to green and gold tones

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of the interactive betting process. First, amobile betting client wishing to interactively bet connects to thebetting provider (Step 602). Once connected, a secure networkconnection, using, for example, encryption or secure sockets, isestablished (Step 604). Once a secure connection is established, anauthentication process occurs, comparing user name and password enteredby the client to entries in a database of user information (Step 606).Once authenticated, the client can select the type of competition to beton, for example, auto racing, hockey, or football. (Step 608). If livevideo and audio is available, the competition can be shown or played(Step 610) if the resources of the client permit. The interactivebetting opportunities currently available for the chosen competition arethen displayed to the client (Step 612). The betting opportunities aredynamic and will be continuously updated. The client informs the bettingprovider of its desire to bet (Step 614) and the stakes (Step 616). Thestakes can be variable amounts or limited to selections presented in achoice menu. The betting selection and the stakes are sent to thebetting provider across the secure connection (Step 618). The bettingprovider verifies the entries made by the client (Step 620). Furtherchecks, including client payment history and credit reports can beincluded in this verification step (Step 620). If any of the entries isinvalid, a valid entry is requested (Step 622). Entries can be invalidfor several reasons, for example, incorrect selection, closing of therequested betting selection prior to the bet being received, or theclient's inability to cover the stakes.

If the entries are valid, the betting provider informs the client ofthat the particular wager has been accepted (Step 624). Different betsopen and close during the course of the competition. Once the bet hasbeen made and accepted, the client may continue to view the competition,personally monitoring the outcome of its wager and making other bets onthe same competition (Step 626). The client may also choose a differentcompetition to view and possibly bet on (Step 628). If the client doesnot wish to view or bet on any other competitions, the connectionbetween the client and the betting provider is closed (Step 630). Atsome point after the close of a particular wager, the participants areinformed of the result and appropriate adjustments to betting accountsare made. If the client is still connected to the betting provider whenthe results are known, the client can be informed of the results.Otherwise, the client can be informed of the status of any outstandingwagers the next time a connection to the betting provider isestablished.

As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the innovativeconcepts described in the present application can be modified and variedover a tremendous range of applications, and accordingly the scope ofpatented subject matter is not limited by any of the specific exemplaryteachings given.

For example, the indicators for changes in betting situation in thepresently preferred embodiments are traffic signals. However, otherindicators can be used to highlight the importance or displayinformation to the user. For example, the interface depicting the timeleft in a betting window can be textual, graphic, animation, audio, orvideo media.

For another example, the mobile betting client monitor has beendescribed. The monitor can be any type of display. For example, atelevision or computer monitor, including flat panel type displays.

The mobile client itself can be any type of unit capable of receivingand displaying signals. For instance, the mobile client can be an HDTVwith a PIP module and web browser capability. On the opposite end of themobility and size spectrum, the mobile betting client can be a hand-heldcellular phone with a small display.

Depending on the capabilities of the mobile client, intermediateprotocols and network connections may not be required to achieveconnection to the streaming data and interactive servers.

The databases containing betting and user information can be designedwith any number of differing architectures, for example, relational,hierarchical, or object oriented.

While interactive sports betting has been described, other interactiveevents can be integrated and broadcast. Such events can include, forexample, video games, shopping, and educational activities.

The preferred context of the disclosed embodiments contemplates digitaldelivery of broadcasts. However, depending on the hardware setup, analogsignals may be used for delivery of the event broadcast and theinteractive display.

The preferred context of the disclosed embodiments contemplates deliveryof events and betting information. However, a software stand-aloneversion, for example, an interactive CD-ROM video game, can be createdhaving the functionality of the network and servers and terminals.Random generation can simulate live events. The video or interactivecontent of the game can remain the same with the random generationproviding the variation needed for multiple plays.

In another context, software, for example, an interactive CD-ROM videogame, can be created which depends on interactivity with the network andservers of a betting provider to generate the random events and bettingopportunities in a simulated game. Such a game can be playedinteractively with other participants at remote locations all receivingthe same randomly generated events and betting opportunities.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing targeted content to auser, the method comprising the steps of: providing content to the useracross a wireless connection, wherein the content includes: aninteractive service; and a news service operating in conjunction withthe interactive service; monitoring content items viewed by the user inthe interactive service; identifying at least one keyword associatedwith the content items viewed by the user and that is stored in acontent server; searching a database associated with the content forinformation relevant to the keyword; and pushing the information to theuser via the news service.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step ofpushing the information comprises: updating a scrolling news frameportion of the news service with the information.
 3. The method of claim1 further comprising the steps of: using the news service to monitor theuser's interaction with the information; and providing the user withdetailed news information upon the user's selection of the information.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing content of theinteractive service further includes the step of providing at least oneof odds, stakes, current bets made by betters, a number of currentlyparticipating bettors, and betting windows.
 5. The method of claim 1further comprising the steps of: integrating interactive service dataand news service data into one signal transmitted over the wirelessconnection; and separating, at least in part, the integrated signal intothe interactive service data and the news service data.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the keyword is derived from the navigation selectionsof the user while interacting with the interactive service.
 7. Anapparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memorystoring computer program code, and storing at least one keyword; whereinthe memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the atleast one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least thefollowing: provide content to a user over a wireless connection, whereinthe content includes: an interactive service; and a news serviceoperating in conjunction with the interactive service; monitor contentitems viewed by the user in the interactive service; identify at leastone of the stored keywords associated with the content viewed by theuser; search a database associated with the content for informationrelevant to the keyword; push the information to the user via the newsservice.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is furthercaused to: initiate transmission of data, as part of the interactiveservice, in real-time from the interactive service to be displayed tothe user; initiate transmission of at least one of the selections andother input the user makes via the interactive service to the newsservice; and register the selections into at least one of log file and adatabase.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the content itemsprovided in the interactive service includes at least one of odds,stakes, current bets made by betters, a number of currentlyparticipating bettors, and betting windows.
 10. The apparatus of claim9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: integrate the interactiveservice data and the news service data into one signal; and separate theintegrated signal into the interactive service data and the news servicedata.